Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1887-09-29

opening his envelope, read:
"DEAnEsT MILLy Yesterday, while I
was copying figures from your Book of
Sports Errington came in. He knows %
little Of everything, and directly he spied it
he carried on in his usual fashion, declaring
it was most distinctly pwcclous,' and worth
anything to Il collector, &c, &c, and he in
sisted on taking me to Trells and Black, IN
Bond street, TO ask their opinion. saw Mr..
Black himself, who was extremely kind and
much interested i'll my story; he told me
that il was probably one Of small, but val
liable, collection Of INNS. and black letter
books Of sports and of scrvice-books (what u
combinationD that bclongcH TOT Mr. Ilylton
and which had been expected to come into
the market. IIylton was the name Of your
godfather, was it not ? So YOU would like
to realize your tIowry, the books will sell
easily; and propose to come down At once
with an expert, who will tell us all about
them. If you don't want us, telegraph to
Your loving
NoRBERT.'
MilIy was enchanted, and ran to tell
her father, but he steadily refused to
believe that the books were "worth the
trouble and fuss ''lf they were
'pomcs,' now" he kept repeating, TIL
his daughter conducted him to tho
study, lighted his pipe, and shut the
door upon him, while she made prepar-
ations for the reception Of the two gem
tleman, who arrived in the evening Of
the day following the receipt Of the let
ter.
A slim, elegant young loHn, with a
budget of the latest London gossip ON
his tongue, and a fund Of ancttoto in
his conversation, Was the "expert" who
had come to examine "Mllly's dowrY'
quite different being from the one she
had expected, and a disappointment to
the girl, who hoped for grizz.ed spec
tacled book-worm, whose opinion would
be taken without question. "What
can this popiujay know about books p
she thought.
Dinner passed off pleasantly, and
Milly's heart beat fast as Nobcrt pro
posed afterwaru that they should 50
and look at the books. Upstairs to
the top Of the house they We're led by
Bridget, who carried lamp with great
solcmnity, and opened for them the
door of large low attic, containing the
miscellaneous rubbish which is accum-
ulated even by a small family. The
old chest in which the books were stor-
ed had been pulled from their corners,
and Milly was amused at the change
which came over Mr.. Styles, the expert
as he opened them and stopped to cI'
anime their contents. The ..society'
look went from his face, and was re-
placed by the shrewd gaze Of man Of
| business, as one after another he lifted
the volumes, examined bindings, dates,
title.pages, and tail-pieces, tiually ex-
claiming, Il congratulate you, Miss
RYAN We have been expecting the
appearance of these books in the anc-
ton rooms. It IS the most complete
collection Of old works on sports and
pastimes known, and IS enriched be-
sides 10y curious addition OF books
containing psalms, short prayers and
mcljtations-al exquisite fourteenth
century manuscripts. One or two are
specially yaluabe-thi3, for instance"
he said, taking up a little brown book
with painted edges, "is Illuminated
with marginal grotesnues and small pc
lures, and was given by its author,
monk of Tours, to Isabella Of Bavaria,
Queen of Charles the Sixth Of France.
1t is remarkable that you should not
have guessed their WORTH he added,
looking at Milly with astoniahment.
"They came here with no letter or
explanation, answered Milly, Except
a note from my godfather, with Just the
words, 'MilIy's Dowry, with Piers Hyl-
ton S love- IN it and my father was
disappointed that the boxes contained
neither plate nor jewelry. We haye
not connected the idea Of books and
money hitherto,' she added comical]y,
$50 they were put up here, and it is
only lately that | have looket into
them and it was quite an accident
that Mr.. Leigh saw one"
"a very happy accident, said MIR.
Styles, as they descended into the sit
ting-room.
The sequel is soon told. Mr.. Styles
and Norbert went through the books
again, and compared them with u eat
alogue they found in one of the chests,
then they conveyed them to London,
where as soon as the ookhunting world
could be made aware Of their discovery
and curiosity sufficiently awakened by
the history Of their temporary secIuslon
the collection was brought to the ham
mer. and realized q sum sufficient tc
prove real dowry for the happy MilIy
who speedily became the wife Of Nor
bert Leigh. She kept the book that
had first attracted the artists attention
and made ornaments for the .netty hail
Of thair hons. in Chelsea out of the o.u